First ever successful heart transplant conducted in Mumbai thanks to efforts of police

The first ever successful heart transplant was conducted in Mumbai in Mulund's Fortis Hospital on Monday. This was the second attempt at a heart transplant; in 1968, an unsuccessful attempt was made for the same.

A 22-year old man from Badlapur was who was suffering from heart failure was the receipient of the heart and was operated upon for the transplant on Monday.

Dr S Narayani, zonal director, Fortis hospital said, “It is indeed a proud moment for Mumbai, and for all of us at Fortis Mulund in what is the cities first  heart transplant.. This move strengthens our resolve in making Mumbai a preferred healthcare destination for organ transplantation, particularly heart transplants. This is not just a case study of Clinical Excellence for the hospital but also a testament to the massive coordination efforts between the Traffic authorities, medical teams and the community in both the cities."She said to theThe Hindustan Times, "The patient is stable. The transplanted heart is stable."

 (L-R) Mr Sukhmeet Sandhu,Regional Director,Fortis Healthcare(Region-W & E),Dr S Narayani,Zonal Dir, Fortis Hospital, Mulund with Hon. Milind Bharambe, Jt Commissioner, Traffic 

The patient recieved the heart from a 45 year-old Pune woman suffering from brain aneurysm. The woman was declared brain dead. 

Dr Anvay Mulay, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “This is the beginning of a robust Heart Transplant Programme in Mumbai and will help save many lives”. Mr Sukhmeet Sandhu, Regional Director, Fortis Healthcare (Region-West & East), said, “This is a momentous occasion for Fortis and the city of Mumbai. I congratulate the medical teams and particularly the traffic authorities both at Pune & Mumbai. I am sure this is the beginning that places our city firmly on the map as far as heart transplants are concerned”.

Dr Anvay Mulay, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund

Green corridors were created both in Pune and Mumbai so the heart could travel to Pune and Mumbai airports respectively. Because of this the transport of the heart which would have otherwise taken four hours, took just about an hour. In Pune, the commute to the airport which was 11 kms away took seven minutes. While in Mumbai the green corridor created by the traffic police through a convoy of 12 vehicles made sure the transport took no more than eighteen minutes to reach Fortis hospital from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. A Navy plane was used to fly the cadaver from Pune to Mumbai.

The request to enable the 'Green Corridor' was received by the Pune traffic police, the Airport Authority of India and the Mumbai Traffic Police around 10am on Monday. The authorities were quick to act and the two cities were ready with the arrangements for the Green Corridor within 20 minutes from the time of initial request to aid. From clearing the traffic on the roads, to stalling red light signals, flight coordination, was done smoothly and in record time. This proved to be a well-orchestrated symphony between the two cities and its local administrations. 

Green Corridor being created for heart transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Milind Bharambe spoke about the green corridor arrangements. "“Meticulous planning and timely execution made this feat possible. Advancing from the Green Corridor in Pune, the heart was airlifted from Pune Airport to Mumbai, moving further from Santacruz Airport (Gate No 8) to Military Road to Santacruz Chembur Link Road to Chedda Nagar to Eastern Express Highway to Airoli Junction and finally to Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Saving a valuable life made it well worth the effort and we are grateful that the citizens of Mumbai co-operated willingly in this humane endeavour”.," he said.

According to his qupte to the Mid-Day, the convoy exited VVIP gate number 8 of Mumbai airport at 3.30 pm and reached Mulund Hospital via Eastern Express Highway at 3:48pm. He said that along with him the SCP and SCP too were present to monitor the situation and six senior officers were traveling in the convoy. "The entire traffic at that particular time was stopped. Cops were at all signals and turning roads. We ensured that everything went ahead smoothly,” he added. 

The operation started at 4.00 pm. The 22 year-old's heart failure was caused by dilated cardiomyopathy. The heart transplant success was a proud moment for the donor's family too. "The family was very motivated. They told us to take all the organs that can help others,” Aarti Gokhale, in-charge of the zonal transplant coordination committee, Pune said to HT.

Chennai happens to be the leading centre for heart transplants in India with at least 135 such cases since 2008.